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Family Is All That Matters 96 everywhere. To be caught practicing religion was a criminal offense that could lead to jail or, more commonly, a fine. But those sanctions were not the most serious. Someone convicted of a crime against the state would have their identity cards marked with a designation that most people called a "wolf ticket." Despite the risks, Iosif could not delay. Lev had to be circumcised as Jewish law dictated. Otherwise Shlomo and Malka, Lev's grandparents, wouldn't recognize Lev as a member of the family. This is how critical circumcision was and is to religious Jews. Iosif 's sister Inna vividly recalls the time aer Lev's birth and before his circumcision. She remembers that her father was very upset at the delay; whether related or not, Shlomo had a stroke. His right side was paralyzed. He lost the gi of speech, and he cried every day. Inna asked her father why he was crying, but he didn't have the words to tell her. She said, "Father, I know why you are crying. You are crying because your grandson has not been circumcised according to Jewish custom." Years later, she recalls, "At that, my father's crying stopped. I arranged for Lev's circumcision. And my father's health was restored. He rose om his bed and his speech returned. This, to me, was a miracle." Even though Iosif knew how dangerous it was to arrange a circumcision, he knew the mitzvah had to be honored, regardless of the risk. The task was so difficult to arrange that it took three months to find a Mohel, the person who would perform the circumcision according to Jewish law. Plans were made with the utmost secrecy. The risk of informers was so great that no one could know until the last possible minute. The ritual took place in Inna's house. On the morning of the circumcision, all the relatives were told where to congregate. Shlomo told Iosif he couldn't show up until aer it was over because Iosif 's Air Force uniform would scare away the Mohel. Aer Lev was circumcised, Iosif came to bless his son. But a problem arose that could have led to dire consequences. As a complication of some circumcisions, some infants develop problems with urination. In these cases, the infant has to be taken to a hospital. There the hospital staff would tell the police that an illegal circumcision had occurred. The family hoped that the problem would resolve itself in a day or two; if not, they would have to take Lev to the hospital. Hours aer the circumcision, the Mohel who had performed it came to Inna's house to check on Lev. Iosif answered the door wearing his uniform. As Shlomo predicted, the Mohel's face grew white with fear and he ran om the house. Luckily at about midnight, with everyone watching, the infant Lev let out with a giant stream that hit the ceiling. Everyone cheered, and this story has been repeated by the family through the years. Being Yeva's parents was challenging in a different way. Esfira, Lyubov's niece, and her husband Boris Grinev watched in amazement as Iosif and Lyubov cared for the disabled Yeva. Top: Iosif, Yeva, Lev Labor, Lyubov, and Lev in Evpatoria, 1957. Above: Yeva Volsun in Evpatoria, Crimea, Russia, 1957. Facing page: Lev and Yeva in Moscow, 1958.

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